Inkscape Tutorial: Spiro Swirls

It took a long wait, but Inkscape 0.47 was released on 24 November 2009. It has taken over a year of intensive development and refactoring, but Inkscape is slowly growing up. We use several vector applications at VSD, but as strong supporters of Open Source software, Inkscape holds a special place. We put up with some of its quirks and try to use the program wherever possible, as it has some seriously cool features.

One of the new additions to Inkscape is the possibility to use Spiro curves (Cornu spirals), which were introduced to the design world by Raph Levien.

In this tutorial I demonstrate the basics of Spiro curves in Inkscape at a slow pace and use it to create smooth flowing swirls.

This tutorial assumes no prior Inkscape knowledge, so it may be a tat slow if you are already familiar with Inkscape's interface and the more advanced features such as the path editor.

I know... I should have made a start button so you determine when the video rolls... it is not there (yet).. please have some patience while contents load. Feel free to comment if you have further suggestions for improvement or have questions about the techniques shown.

File size: 7 MB

The video starts automatically - just give it some time to load. Pause the tutorial at any time with the control bar just below it.

First of all, you must have Inkscape version 0.47 or higher installed (I just checked the 0.48-dev version and it is in there as expected).

The Spiro path can be either directly created using a path tool (such as the Bezier Tool ) with the mode set to Spiro.Another option is to add it later to a path via the menu Path > Path Effect Editor (Shift+Ctrl+7). You then select Spiro Spline from the drop down list, and press the Add button to apply it.If you still cannot find it, at least let me know what operating system you work on and what version of Inkscape you use - so I can look to other possible causes.

If you are talking about the triangle that makes the "pattern" along your path, it is drawn in the upper left corner of your document (the top left corner of the paper).

It is ONLY visible if you have applied a pattern to the path. For example: use the bezier tool and set the Shape to "Triangle In", or have added "pattern along a path" manually through the Path Effect Editor.

If a pattern is applied to a path, you can edit the pattern "on-canvas" by clicking on the "edit-on-canvas" symbol in the Path Effect Editor - it LOOKS like the Node Tool, but it is the icon in the Path Effect Editor, when you select "Pattern Along Path" in the Effects List.

I had a very early version of inscape years ago and just could not find any tutorials or self-teach my self. have been using scribus; now have come back to inkscape and with your tutorials wow...it's a whole new world!! thank you!

I am glad the tutorials are of help. And getting feedback on them is great, as it helps us to fine-tune our path.

Inkscape has come a long way and it has features that are not available in the big commercial programs, tho it lacks a few they have too. I find that I can do almost all vector work exclusively in Inkscape.

Very good tutorial! I am trying to follow the tutorial but nothing happens when I click on "Paste Path" (Path Effect Editor -> Pattern Along Path). I am using Inkscape 0.47 and I am following the tutorial step-by-step. Please, can you help me?

i am having the same problem. i'm using a mac and i'm wondering if that's part of the problem. i've found that the usual "right click" work-around doesn't work in this program. (double click does that instead.) so i'm guessing there's a mac-ish way to make this "paste path" work, but i haven't found it yet.

i was following a tutorial on youtube and did everything that the guy said and it didn't work. so i googled for my problem and found that this person had the same problem. i've gone through all the steps in the reply and it doesn't make any difference. i've still just got the skinny line.

As I do not work on a mac myself, I cannot really help you with this, but I do know that for version 0.47 there were quite some problems copy-pasting items. I linked to a few posts with solutions and work arround in comment 118 on this thread: verysimpledesigns.com/.../...

Also there were quite some regressions introduced with Inkscape 0.48, the developers are working hard to get those issues solved - but it looks like we need to have some patience before 0.48.1 will be released. I must confess that the problems with 0.48 have take some joy of working with Inkscape away - so I am really hoping for a speedy release of that version.

As I do not work on a mac myself, I cannot really help you with this, but I do know that for version 0.47 there were quite some problems copy-pasting items.

... we need to have some patience before 0.48.1 will be released. ...

First of all thank you very much for your wonderful tutorials. I got interest again for Inkscape to spend 'free' time and I could learn the basics from you. By the way after seeing your comment I've installed 0.48.1 stable version (was 0.46 with me) but this seems to be very slow to start up and process, compared to 0.46!anyway expecting more tutorials,best wishesvinay

I am sorry you are having troubles. The Bezier Tool can be a bit difficult to handle sometimes, but with a bit practice you'll get the hang of it.

Most important to get the spiro kicked in properly is that your bezier path already has some "flow", is a smooth curve. If you create "cusp" (corner) nodes, it will keep them like that. Also it is very important to create a few nodes on a path, I noticed that with 3 I often just get an elegantly shaped partial circle.

The easiest way to change your path in a smooth flowing path is to select all nodes and use the auto-smooth option:1. Select the node tool 2. Select all nodes, either by rubberband selection or by hitting Ctrl+A3. Press the auto-smooth button on the Node Tool - Tool Control Bar This should kick the spiro immediately.

I'll use this technique also in the basic shape creation for the doodle heart in the Sketch and Hatch tutorial and in the Paisly Motif tutorial, even tho the shape for the Bezier Tool is set to None, where I use Triangle In in this spiro swirls tutorial.

If you use the "highlight path" option, you'll see your path in red when you hover over it with the node tool. The black path is the spiro path. You can edit the normal path with the node tool: add nodes, move nodes and so on.

I hope this provides a bit more insight.

Also, I saw you posted 2 similar comments, I only published one as I assume you did not know that the comments were moderated before publishing.

This tutorial is made with Inkscape 0.47, which is the latest stable release.

Inkscape version 0.48 is not released yet. The development is currently in the "chill phase". The actual release is expected possibly in May 2010.

However, if you are a daring user, and not afraid for working with an unstable version: user testing is HIGHLY appreciated. I run the development version on Ubuntu and I get daily updates from the repository. Also for Windows there is an option to grab nightly builds. See for more information:inkscape.org/download/?lang=en under the section "Development Versions".

To quote the website:Quote:

For those wishing to use the latest and greatest "bleeding edge" features and willing to risk more instability, or those wishing to test out the newly added code to help identify and debug problems in the code, access is provided to the development versions. Use at your own risk, and please report bugs you find!

Always search if the bug is already reported. If so: at the top of each bug report there is a line reading "This bug affects x people. Does this bug affect you?" Click the button next to it. And if you have new details to provide, please add them.

For all bug reports: please add the operating system you use, what version of Inkscape (check the about screen), and add details!!

Inkscape is awesome because users like you and me are testing and reporting!

Something goes wrong when I try to copy/cut paths: instead of copying the path, Inkscape copies it as a raster image, making pasting a path impossible. I do the exact steps shown in this tutorial, but the problem persists. What could possibly be going wrong?

The result of conversions between different vector editors is always a bit tricky as one or the other may not have the specifications implemented in full. The more complex a drawing, the more the chance that something will not turn out right. And as eps not only supports pure vector but also rasterization, this may also be cause of troubles.

However, to share your vectors between these programs, conversion is NOT needed. Both Corel Draw and Illustrator can read svg files. I tested it specificallly for spiro this morning:

A spiro curve with a pattern along path: 14 nodes

I did not remove the spiro effect via Path > Object to Path but I saved the drawing "as-is". Of course converting the spiro to a normal path in Inkscape is recommended before export as you can preview the results.

I saved it to the native Inkscape SVG format - but I recommend you use standard svg as this removes some Inkscape specific meta-data.

Open up your other favorite editor and simply open the Inkscape.svg file.

This tutorial is wonderful! I am a new Inkscape user and have been tinkering around in the program for about a day now. After watching this, I've finally discovered how all those wonderful brushes I download from Deviant Art are created and I cannot wait to try my hand at creating my own! Thank you so much for sharing!

Hey, Im completely new to inkscape but this looked simple so I tried it... Every time I draw a spirally thing it seems to completely change after I finish drawing it, sometimes simplifying it to a single spiral or sometimes making an complex series of squiggles. Any idea what Im doing wrong?

Sometimes it is good to keep in mind that as long as the Spiro effect is active, the curve will be treated and pushed into the spiro shape as soon as you move a node.

The trick is to use the spiro effect to get a nice swirl, and then to remove the spiro effect by applying the "object to path" option (under the path menu).

The path with then be fixed in its current shape, the pattern and spiro are applied permanently. It also removes the option to quickly edit the path as spiro, but it will prevent unwanted changes as described.

The part in the video where I duplicate and mirror a swirl shows exactly what the can happen and how to apply above technique.

I just downloaded Inkscape today ( I just love softwares related to graphics & multimedia!) and chanced upon your tutorial. And I felt i just had to try this out. Loved your awesome tutorial! It got me started with the basics. Thank you so much for sharing it with us ♥I managed these within 20 minutes

I think I know what you mean. My mate Dakka is an experienced GIMP user and Inkscape drives him nuts too. I have been using both vector and image editors for quite some years and I sorta know where each of the programs strenghts and weaknesses are. The main thing to keep in mind is that a vector is an object on its own and it does not blend in with the neighbouring pixels. So try to find the shapes in your designs, chop them in "primitives" (the circle, rectangle etc) and construct your drawing from those.

I agree with you on finding and editing this tiny control shape on the drawing. I find it irritating that it initially appears at the top left corner of the document (why not at the top left corner of the path bounding box?). And size is irrelevant as it is a vector.. but bleh. Unfortunately.. that is what you get with the default settings - I cannot help that.

But what you can do is draw your OWN shape, cut (or copy) it to clipboard (Ctrl+X or Ctrl+V), select the path with the pattern effect and then "paste" your own shape. The technique is demonstrated in the video.

If you are an absolute Inkscape beginner, you may find the Cartoon Fish tutorial helpful, as it shows these techniques too - but it is fully written with lots of screenshots. Also the Kokeshi Doll tutorial is targeted at new vector/inkscape users. My mate Dakka tested them all (swore at some of the earlier versions) and was able to complete them.

I have figured out how to select/edit the pattern triangle thing, only to stumble upon the next step where you create another pattern for the swirl to follow... Every time I Copy the new pattern, I Cut it, reselect the swirl, then click "Paste" in the "Path Editor" box, only to get a message that says there's nothing on the clipboard. I've seen your reply to João's comment, and tried to follow those steps but I still get the same result... So what could I've done wrong? :(

Hi Diane.Drawing bezier curves can be a bit hard at first. The trick is to click AND keep the mouse buttondown AND drag the mouse to the new point and only to release the cursor after that action.

If you simply click on the canvas, the Bezier tool will assume you meant a "corner node" (a cusp node) and the spiro action cannot kick in.

A way out is to select all the nodes (just draw an selection window around it or hit Ctrl+A - both actions with the node tool selected) and then use the Auto-Smooth nodes button. That will smooth the nodes and spiro will kick in immediately. This technique is demonstrated in the video, but also in the sketch and hatch tutorial.

All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you, because of you, I was able to create a custom logo for my company that is unique and exactly what I wanted. I bookmarked your tutorial site before I know It I will be a pro at this. Now I want to figure out how Star Wing did his pictures

I have been apart of Inkscape since the most advanced tut was that of the Coffee cup and no where at that time was "Magic", as you so loosely use the term in your tut, any part of this system. Thus, "Magic", "Sorcery", "Witchcraft" which is highly offensive to many that are gounded in Biblical and Quranic faith practices, was not, and is not apart of our agreement to use this technology. Such definitions spoil what would, otherwise, be a superb tutorial coming from you.

I respect people and their believes in all their colours (whether they are Islamic, al-Kitāb or not)

Obviously you are a person of intelligence and open to debate, so I am wondering how you got the context wrong and found it necessary to take offense. Please refer to the dictionary (as English is not my native language I used the Cambridge dictionary) and read the word in its proper contexts: i.e. "the skill of performing tricks to entertain people, such as making things appear and disappear and pretending to cut someone in half" - which is not easily confused with either divine or arcane powers.

As this is my website and I decide what will be published or not - I consider this discussion closed. No one need to comment on this further, it will be ignored.

Hello, Love your spiro tutorial. After watching it I decided to put Inkscape on the PC to give it go. But having a bit of trouble doing it from the video. Going back and forth everytime I would love to see the video tuts also in writing. But having said that keep up the great work!!

Wow, now that truly was magic! I've been a Photoshopper (i.e. bitmaps) for a long time, but after seeing this I'm definitely downloading Inkscape and dipping my toes into the unknown waters of Vector design! (Try making those beautiful spirals in Photoshop... headaches, swearing and lots of coffee needed!)

I have downloaded inkscape recently. I took notes on all of your steps. I am new to this and I can not get past the 1st step. I click on the bezier curves button but then I have no bar across the top with the drawing mode to create a spiro path!!! Please help.. I took 4 pages of notes and can not get past the first step. Thank you :)

Hi Adam,It is an flash file at a specific size (height=591, width = 801). Any other size will show it blurred. The size is kept small on purpose - as we do not all live in a place where internet bandwidth is available unlimited or cheap.

Some people like video tutorials others like the written part. I myself prefer the latter that is why most tutorials on the site are in that form. There is no written version of the spiro swirls tutorial on this site, but the same techniques are used and explained in the cartoon fish tutorial. You may want to explore that part.

hi, i love looking at vector arts on the internet and i wanted to make one, hope this wont put a virus on the computer :) anyways i hope i can make a good vector art. ive been watching the tutorials and they are all good.

Well, this is nothing new...awesome tutorial. I love swirly graphics and just started playing around with Inkscape, even though I've had it installed for years. I'm having lots of fun creating graphics,and your tutorial helped. On my way to check out your other tutorials.

Glad you liked the tutorial. You're right - the spiro path controls the look and feel of your path, and when you convert it to a normal path (Path > Object to Path), as demonstrated in the video, the control is fully back to you. It is a very powerful technique with many applications.

Thanks for the great tutorial! I'd like to suggest that you record a live screen cast with your own voice rather than inserting call-outs. Reading call-outs while watching is annoying and distracting from the tutorial.

I am sorry you have troubles finding the spiro option when working with the Bezier tool.

Please make sure that you work with Inkscape 0.47 or higher. And please check out this Inkscape tutorial too as it shows how to use spiro with the bezier tool step-by-step (instead of a video): Sketch and Hatch.

The terms are pretty clear to me and read that you can use our designs as long as credit is given (link back). If that is not desired then we can be approached for a commercial license.

The tutorials are not to be reproduced, but we are allowing translations - the more people benefit.. the better. I do like to see the final product tho.

At the moment I see quite a few people "ripping off" the designs. Basically they follow the tutorial, create a very very similar product (almost a 1-to-1 copy) and then put that up in their Zazzle / Red Bubble stores. I don't understand that.. how hard is it to take up a design and ADD something of yourself to it - some of the results that are posted back to the site show more originality!

To my eyes this behaviour comes pretty close to ignoring the "please do not claim this design as your own". But I guess there always be copy cats. At least some of those mention that it is the result of one of my tutorials.

I saw this tutorial long time ago but I didn't need it back then. Now that I'm in a situation where I needed this technique, I looked back at your tutorial. It is very enlightening! Thank you for the great tutorial!

Anyway, here's a solution to the problem with flipping a duplicated path element that has 'Pattern Along Path' effect. The reason the shape changes is because the source pattern does not flip with the object. One solution would be to set the width in the effect settings to a negative value, eg. if the width is 1 then set it to -1. In effect this will flip the pattern, thus fixes the shape.

Another solution would be to group the object before flipping it. But then if you ungroup it, the shape will still change.

So the former solution would probably be better if you want to maintain the effect.

Simplification always deforms a bit, but it should not change the shape significantly.

Did you fix the results of the spiroswirl before your simplification? Path > Object to Path? This step sounds a bit funny, but it basically applies the spirocurve permanently to your path.

If you ran the simplification on your path with the spirocurve still applied, then your original path will simplify and next the spirocurve will still deform to that simplified path. With greater effects of course.

The "bug" is not really a bug since the path is not flipped with the object. The path will be applied the same way on the flipped object and thus it will just look different. The solution would be to also reverse the path (not sure how you would do this though).

Newsflash

The main focus of Very Simple Designs is to provide digital resources that can be used for print and web design. While we fill the site to the brim with our professionally created vector stock, patterns and textures as well as brushes for Photoshop and Paintshop Pro, we offer everything free for personal use.